I have posted on here under different topics many times - for myself and for others. I am looking at my third extraction in two months - all root canalled teeth, all infected. It has been a summer of pain and frustration. What I am wondering is why dental problems, at least for me, seem to come in runs. I had this happen one other time, again in the summer. So a few questions I have are:

Can infection travel through the mouth - one infection causing another?

Can sinus infections cause dental infections and visa versa?

Can a depleted immune system (had kidney stones and lithotripsy this spring) cause the body to set up or be more vunerable to infection in the weakest at the moment area of the body?

Why, oh why, do root canals seem to continually fail with me after several years? One dentist thinks small canals coming off of the main ones that can not be seen on x-ray!!!

Has anyone had their teeth go in runs like this? If so, what did you do, other than having them taken care of? Any ways to build oneself back up after all of this? I do take vitamins and try and get enough rest. And despite not being able to eat well, I do try to eat as healthily as I can - lots of good soups, cottage cheese, soft vegetables, real fruit/vegetable juices, soft fish, etc.

I am just really worn out from this and wondering if anyone has travelled the same road.

[Removed] Sinus Infections do not cause Dental Infections and vice versa. Although if you feel like you have a toothache on the top and you do not get the sinues looked at. Common mistake at the dental office. You need to see the dentist every 6 months, to get teeth cleaned and every once a year get them x-rayed, (4 bite wings) every 3 to 5 years a Full Series of X-rays. As far as your Root Canals, I'm hoping you saw the Endodontist, ( the Root Canal Specialist) and not your regular dentist! You can have small canals, a good dentist can get in there and fix it. It just happened to me. As far as it happening in runs. I swear by everything happening in 3's. I'm hoping you Brush and Floss and Rinse your Teeth everyday. Taking a Multi Vitamin is a Plus, if your not Happy find another Dentist, word of Mouth is the Best education. When you have an Infection such as your kidney Stones it can Break down your Body, your Immune System and yes your Mouth can be Effected. You need to take care of your teeth, you only get one set and Dentures are not the way to go and if you can afford it Implants are awesome but not covered by insurance and are quite Expensive

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Hi Glowling 4, I feel your dispair and frustration. I wish I had answers to your questions.They are the same questions I have...It is so frustrating, by reading many of your posts I know you have kept up with dental care,as I have and look at our problems..Not fair. With my new tooth problem,(other side saw dentist plus peridontist,put on another antibotic,no improvement after five days infact getting worse) saw another dentist who told me the infection was under the roots of the tooth (x-rays tell the truth) reason it was not getting better wrong choice of antibotic and also not strong enough.Can the tooth be saved???? Endo that also works in the same office,was consulted, She stated she would hate for me to spend the money to only find out in two or three years,the tooth would have to go. I ask why,she refered to loss of bone in the jaw,peridontal diease, osteo, and post-menopause bad combination. Now one week ago I had my top teeth clean,(could not do the bottom due to recent infection and surgery other side) She ask me went was last time you had a cleaning,she was refering to the top, when I told her week ago, she said well there are some good hygentist and then there are fair ones. I ask her" she did not do a good job???She said only fair. My point is I see the dental hygentist every 4 to 6mo. I brush, floss..and if our hygentist are only doing a fair job(which we don't know) how can we win? Who knows that day she may have done only fair,but others done well. All I know is my teeth hurt after she is done. At any rate both dentist agreed the tooth had to go...well I had it done...body feel like I have been kicked down for the count..This was the worse extraction I have ever had!!!! 6 shots of novicane. Having trouble in all ways.Side of face swollen,going down alittle,pain subsideing,just sore real sore.Also trying very hard to keep strength up, eating is diffcult, have lost 5lbs (not a bad thing) but weak and so sore on the jaw line of that extraction. I am trying to eat and drink every half hour. but mash pot, yogurt,puddings are losing there zest. Feel your frustration, you bet.... dispair, I'm right with you. Answers to why,if you find any good ones let me know. Hopefully this will be it....take care,my prayers are with you. and let me know what happens

I have a compromised tooth that was RC'd by my dentist about a year and half ago because I had abscessed. After he went in to get the second nerve, he told me that it was very calcified, but got it. However (after the abscess, and the RC) he told me he could not cap the tooth as there was a hairline fracture in the root. The filling didn't hold so now the tooth is bonded. Great. It is the 4th tooth on the side from the top front tooth. I am sick over this tooth, just waiting for it to go and I will need an extraction. What the heck is going on with these darn dentists. I will listen to Ifgirl....I wold never do another RC w/o it being done by an endodontist.

IFGIRL....how much is an implant approx.? I live in NY?

Thanks.

Good luck Glowing, keep up posted and try not to stress, stess adds to problems and a breakdown of our immune system.

Thanks to all of you for your compassionate posts. However, I am so sorry you are dealing with similar things and so understand the pain you are in. I keep waiting to wake up to a pain free day but it hasn't happened yet. One thing I don't understand is why after you tell them how much pain your mouth is in they feel it necessary to tap on all of them! All that ever does for me is rev everything up again. For example, the first extraction I had in July caused a hairline fracture. I mentioned this to the endodontist and he proceeded to tap on the teeth in front of it!! OK, all of that is very painful today. And, tapping never shows anything to anyone about any tooth in my mouth. But, they don't want to listen to that - just tap away with metal from the end of an instrument. If you have a fracture does it make sense to tap around it?? And yes, I do know why they tap, but hey does not work on me and just puts me in pain afterwards from an already revved up mouth.

I totally understand about the bone loss, the post menopause, the osteo, etc. Implants are not an option for me and I would not consider them. I am so glad that I am not taking any of the biophosphonates for osteoporosis. With all of these extractions I would be in quite a mess right now. As a side note - many dentists are considering these drugs as a dental nightmare, not to mention the patients who are living through jaw death from them.

I have a great new dentist and a great endodontist. I really appreciate their honesty. When I walked out yesterday from the endodontist I was so glad that he did not try to fix the tooth as many would have and was honest enough to advise me the right way. Sure, saving a tooth is always the best course, but not after a root canal, a surgical root canal, a crown that is leaking and causing decay and infection.

I am always scared now - not of the procedures, but of the pain after. I am most concerned that the first extraction still hurts after a little over a month and I am always worried that it is another tooth going. I am going to ask my dentist on Monday before the next extraction if he knows why these seem to come in runs. I will let you know his answer.

It will be three months before everything heals and I can get my partials. Yes, squishy, mushy food is getting real old! My dentist is making me great new partials with a new material. You can actually bend and twist them and they are so much lighter. I understand that they may not last as long and that teeth can not be added to them. They are also more expensive, however my mouth needs comfort and lightness now so I am willing to pay the money and take the risk of maybe needing them replaced down the road.

My thoughts are with all of you. Hopefully we can all enjoy a pain free day soon.

Hi Glowing 4, I hear girl regarding to the tapping,I have so many teeth tap that I ready to scream. My dentist just called, feels the antibotic is too strong for me and thats why I'm dizzy and weak. He switch to another,I'm ready to throw those out too!!! I do not know how much more my stomach can handle. Also he said I should not be sore from the procedure for it was not tramatic. I had 6 shots of novicane, If fact during the procedure, when he pulled I could feel a jolt down to my toes. Hence another shot of novicane. I feel my only wisdom tooth, is the problem, that one is behind the tooth he pulled. why he didn't pull that too, he said it didn't look well,and cleaned all around it. So sore is under statment. However, I have to laugh to myself, when the denist says "I don't understand why you are sore,or uncomfortable it was an easy procedure." Maybe for him. I do feel better off that strong antibotic. However still very sore. I do not know if he is going to pull the wisdom tooth also.......I do not know how much more I can take. But I hear you loud and clear....enough is enough

Not sure if this will help or not, but my dentist said that sometimes when a tooth is pulled it can cause a hairline fracture in the bone, or a small piece of bone can break off which would cause the pain. He also said that the muscles can get stretched and sore. I had an extraction in early July which still hurts and he feels this could be the reason. Either that or it is another tooth going which scares me to death. I, too, am getting to the end of what I can take!

Glad the new antibiotic is helping you to feel better. Antibiotics can really mess with your stomach and other things so hope you will feel better with all of that real soon.

I went to have one tooth extracted yesterday and meanwhile have been in great pain on the other side. My dentist, whom I really like and respect, did not want to do them and is sending me to an oral surgeon on Thursday. Good decision on his part, but hard to wait as I want this over.

I am losing just about all of my root canalled teeth and probably more to come. It appears from the x-rays that most of them were not done well - canals only partially cleaned out and filled - thus the infections. Also poorly fitting crowns. At the time I thought I was getting good dental care. And, I will admit that I have difficult teeth - curving roots, etc. It is just so sad and difficult for me though after all of that pain, expense, etc. to end up losing them anyway and now piling on more pain and expense. Hopefully this will end soon, but it is going to be awhile as everything heals and the new partials get made. My husband jokes (kindly) that I will be able to eat Thanksgiving dinner.

Thanks to everyone. I am dreading Thursday. I am not a dental phobic, but two at one time and then the recovery is not something I am looking forward to. I long for a pain and worry free day!

Hi Glowing, My prayers and thoughts are with you. I feel you and I are on the same road..and we are falling into a lot of pot holes!!! I just came back from the dentist. He fells bad for me and did not charge me for todays visit,took 5 x-rays, results...hairline fracture(you should be a dentist,you told me that) and the wisdom tooth next to the one I had out last wed. needs to come out asap. He told me if the two names of oral surgeons he gave me can not get me in by thursday...He will get me in, as an emergency. Great! I feel like you can hardly wait. I am not looking forward to this. I do hope you will be better,trust me when I tell you my thoughts are with you...

plc, I loved your comment about us falling into pot holes! It gave me a laugh for the evening, which I really needed.
Oh my, we are both going to get more teeth out! Does this ever end? I also loved - "Great, I can hardly wait". Despite all that we are going through, your humor is wonderful. I am so sorry you are dealing with this, but how wonderful to have someone to share with. Hang in there. We just have to start jumping over a few of these pot holes sooner or later!

Hi Glowling, Just finish talking with the oral surgeon, on the phone. He is seeing me at 2;30 on thurs. My dentist had to help me get this appt. for when I called they could not see me for two weeks. I called 4 oral surgeons.Either they work small amt. hours or there are alot of people getting teeth out. So Thurs you and I will be sitting with gauze or tea bags. I hope all goes well for you, If your up to it let me know how it went...Your "POT HOLE" friend

plc, Oh my goodness. You and I will be there at the same time! I go at 2:00 on Thursday - probably for three teeth. I have a call into my dentist right now about the third which he doesn't feel will last much longer. So, we will probably add it to tomorrow's list. I am so worried about smiling as these are going to show and that is really upsetting me. I can't get the partial for three months and I am upset with how I will look. They are towards the back, but the ones behind them are gone or going so it is going to be noticable I think. I usually am pretty brave when it comes to the dentist, but I am scared today. Three is a lot for one time and I am so tired of pain. I am also so sad, beyond angry, that I am losing all these root canalled teeth. Can anyone get anything right?

I am glad your dentist got you in early. It is horrible to sit around and wait and worry to go. I will be thinking of you tomorrow. Maybe if we both think of each other we can send strength back and forth. This has got to be the end of it - right?

Hang in there my pot hole friend, and we will reconnect when we can. Thanks for being there.

Your posts are so amazing--you express all my feelings exactly--I could write them verbatem--I also don't get how one procedure now seems to lead to another problem and another and another.....One endo doc confessed to me that he is seeing SO many unnecessary root canals (I think he's getting ready to retire)--which many of lead to more complications. UNless they see the problem or see it on x-ray...I suggest to everyone to investigate the problem further. My little throbbing led to 2 root canals with unresolved pain and the 2 apicos, and then an extraction and still throbbing pain...then an uncomfortable bridge and crown lengthening and now waiting for a new bridge but still have LOTS of pains (and exposed nerves now)--
I would like to consider an implant, but the docs are hesitant because I had some bleeding problems with the surgeries (but I was taking advil???)--What is a partial vs a bridge?
Who is not a good candidate for an implant?
Obviously, I have trouble with root canals, etc. since they seem to lead to more problems..but now I am in lots of pain and have the discomfort of this large bridge, waiting for gums to heal to take new impressions....and so I wait and wait...also waiting to wake up pain free some day maybe.
All this for someone who until last year simply went for a cleaning once a year!

Oh my, oh my, what a group we are! mtpeony, I am so sorry that you are going through all of this, but most of all that you are still in pain. In never seems quite fair to go through procedure after procedure only to NOT have the pain end. It seems like a cruel trick.

The difference between a bridge and a partial is that a bridge fits between teeth and is pretty much permanent. A partial is like false teeth (fits into your mouth and is removable) only it is not a fall denture. I have my front teeth, so the partials are basically the molars, top and bottom after tomorrow!

I admit to being scared tonight. I usually am pretty brave, but this seems a bit daunting. The positive is that this will almost end the root canalled teeth - one left I think - and hopefully the end of pain for awhile. These past two months have been really hard with the pain. I feel like I lost most of my summer and I love the summer, especially as we moved to our dream beach location this past spring. I am just hoping I am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

plc and mtpeony, I hope and pray the same for you. We have to keep believing that we will one day ALL be pain free. I so appreciate the sharing. Thank you so very much.
My thoughts are with you.

What dentists do not tell you, after years of bad i found a great dentist in the neighborhood and past several years have had constant treatment.
When insurance changed i ended up at Southern dental which was a horrid experience's. Then went back to my old dentist and saved a few teeth.
What i learned in the process other health issues can and do affect mouth issues. From arthitus , diabetes, auto immune thingies< ( many illnesses in that category) But these issues can affect nerves, muscles pain and not all pain that may be associated with teeth are caused by teeth but in fact imflamation flare up.
Having gone through a crown process recently i do have to re call my dentist to see if there is an issue or my "other circumstances" since my goings on can and do cause pain in other areas.
Oh one thing since no one mentioned in this thread if haven't gone to a neurologist or ent specialist there are other things that can help with mouth issues and nerve pain. I truly believe taking an active approach helped save my teeth and me.
I hope we all get pain relief and have better dental experiences.
To sum up this post other health concerns do play an active roll in what happens in our mouth and mouth pain